CalFresh EBT deposit day - anyone else worried about theft? County saying they won't replace stolen benefits!

This is definitely concerning but there's some misinformation happening. The county DOES still replace stolen benefits, but the process changed in January 2025. You now need to: 1. File a police report within 5 days of discovering the theft 2. Submit an EBT-2259 form to your county office 3. Provide bank statements if the theft was from an ATM withdrawal The 'video evidence' thing isn't accurate - that's not required by policy. The county has up to 10 days to investigate and decide on replacement. In the meantime, best protection practices: - Change your PIN regularly (smart move there) - Check your EBT balance daily through the app - When entering PIN, cover the keypad with your other hand - Only use ATMs at banks or major stores, avoid gas stations - Consider transferring benefits to your bank account using the Direct Deposit feature on the BenefitsCal portal

omg i just got my deposit notification too!!! changing my pin right now thanks for the reminder

This happened to me in March! Someone stole $1,430 from my EBT card somehow and I spent WEEKS trying to get it back. The county kept transferring me around to different departments, I couldn't get through to anyone who could actually help. I was literally in tears trying to feed my family. The replacement policy HAS changed, but it's not that they won't replace benefits - it's that they're much stricter now. When I finally got a supervisor (after days of calling), she told me skimming fraud has increased 340% since 2023 and they had to tighten verification requirements. I desperately needed that money back and couldn't get through their phone system. A friend told me about this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person in under 5 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 - it was literally the only way I finally got to a supervisor who could approve my replacement benefits. Their website is claimyr.com if you need it.

EVERYBODY LISTEN UP!!! there are scammers in the parking lots at food 4 less and walmart watching 4 ppl using ebt!! my cousin works security there and says they have cameras that can see ur pin from like 30 feet away!! always cover the keypad!! and they put skimmers on the card readers at night!!

this is why i hate deposit day every month... so much stress 😫 good luck everyone

My coworker just went through this whole ordeal. The county initially denied her claim but she appealed and eventually got her benefits back. It took almost 3 months though! The system is so frustrating. Her mistake was waiting too long to report it - you MUST report within 5 calendar days of discovering the theft according to the new rules. And yes, they are definitely replacing stolen benefits, but the process has more steps now. One thing nobody mentioned - if you're really concerned, you can request your benefits be split into two deposits (first half on the 1st, second half on the 15th). That way if something happens, you don't lose everything at once. My worker set this up for me after I had a similar scare.

My CalFresh got stolen last year and they replaced it but it took forever. The county people act like WE'RE the criminals when we report theft. Like we're making it up or something! I was treated so badly when I tried to report it. Eventually I did get the money back but only after I threatened to contact the news. 🙄

I'd like to clarify some information based on the updated California Department of Social Services protocols implemented in 2025: 1. CalFresh benefits CAN still be replaced when stolen electronically, contrary to what some recipients have been told 2. The official replacement process now requires: - Form EBT-2259 ("Request for Benefit Replacement Due to Electronic Theft") - Police report filed within 5 days of discovery - Statement detailing when/where you last used the card - Copy of your EBT transaction history (available on the app) 3. The county has 10 business days to make a determination 4. If denied, you have appeal rights through the state hearing process For prevention, the new enhanced security features include: - Card lock/unlock feature in the EBT mobile app - Biometric verification option (fingerprint/face ID) - Geographic transaction limitations you can set - Purchase amount alerts - Category blocking (prevent ATM withdrawals entirely) I'd recommend setting up all these security features before your benefits arrive. They're all available in the CalFresh EBT app under "Security Settings.

my caseworker told me to just spend all the benefits on the first day which is what i do every month now. bulk shopping at costco then no worries about theft!!!